Viewpoints

They made us many promises, more than I can remember,
but they never kept but one;
they promised not to take our land, and they did.

- Mahpiua Luta "Red Cloud" Oglala Lakota

- Arc of Light -
- Floppy's Statement -
- Petition for FS Access -

Arc of Light:
An Opinion on Permit Options

I am going next week to the Northern rim of the Great Basin to meet up with scouts and look at possible sites.

After leaving Exile Camp at last year’s Gathering I went directly to the Federal Prison Camp in Florence, Colorado and "served" 90 days for the ticket I received at the Pennsylvania Gathering in 1999.

I want to thank so much all the Rainbows who sent postcards, pictures, postings, paperbacks, prayers, positive vibrations. You all touched me, helped me along.

The Authoritarian Bureaucrats who wrote that regulation planned for us to be corralled in a position of illegality. That's what they wanted to do.

Unlike the two Federal cases in the 1980’s where we prevailed and two sets of similar regulations were ruled Unconstitutional, today there have been a long string of rulings against our positions.

Even in those cases where we have won on certain aspects (liability, vague terms and conditions) still the courts have allowed for the regulation to stand.

By continuing a position of noncompliance we play into the position that "they" want: A position where they can continue to criminalize us. Where they can prevent resource rangers from working with us. Where they can harass, intimidate, provoke, search, seize, ticket and even arrest anyone coming or going or attending ("Use and occupancy" is what I was ticketed for).

One of the questions we face is "How do we win what we really want?"

If what we want is a glorious last stand in a losing battle with the Government over Our Rights, then we should continue to stand in defiance and watch as over the next years the harassment increases, and our numbers diminish until we are thoroughly worn down, even dissolved.

If what we want is to change the world by growing and sharing our circle of community, our goodness, our way of being family, and all the other beautiful things that we do, then we need to find a way to fend off this attack on Our Rights.

We have gained as much or more over these years in discussion and communication with the opposition than we have through the courthouses. The bureaucracy has been willing to give over some ground, including some big issues that we lost on in the courts (such as: Not having to be either designated nor a representative.)

These Rights of Assembly, and Religion and Association, and Expression are Eternal Rights. They can¹t be taken away, or regulated away. But the people who practice them can be pursued, hounded, blockaded, arrested, jailed, and even worse.

This is what we should avoid right now. There is a climate of fear across the land. Homeland Security and the Patriot Act are real. We need to act with creativity and wisdom and as much unity as we can muster and not from a place of enjoying the conflict, nor from a place of fear.

As a dedicated Peace activist I believe the time is right to make the best Common Ground approach, and gain as many advantageous choices as we can in a very difficult situation. This is – I believe - the best way to continue to spread our Arc of Light.

I have given notice to the Forest Service (in the regions that cover the Great Basin¹s Northern rim) that I am willing to come forward as a signer on their paperwork, but that I will need several things clearly written, and several things done.

First: that I am a "individual proponent of the event" and "not an agent or representative for anyone other than my own self." I am not designated by anyone else, nor by any group, nor does the assembly of individuals at issue here have any method for designating me or anyone else.

Second: I waive my rights of confidentiality so all parts of this process are public, of public record, "can take place in the open, with witnesses, recording, etc."

Third: a resource team works with participants together "to insure resource protection, public safety and health" (similar to operating plans 1982-1995.)

Fourth: a procedure is developed for a sign-off letter to be delivered to the last of the Onsite Cleanup Crew from the District Ranger asserting that cleanup and rehabilitation have been completed and have met or exceeded FS standards and public lands left in satisfactory or better condition (similar to cleanup letters 1990 ­1997).

I heard back from Recreation Officers from both regions saying yes, all that would be acceptable to them.

I believe that an Open Process, a Resource Team working with us again, a return to a "cleanup" letter, and other benefits, hopefully, in terms of not giving law enforcement a free hand to harass whoever, whenever and however they want is the best possible course to choose right now.

Sometimes we have to choose between What is Wise and What is Right. These points are never easy or one-sided. Everyone has strong, thoughtful reasons for believing what they do. I would ask, only with great respect for dissenters and disbelievers in this process: Wait and see. Give the peace a chance.

At least two of our court rulings have said, that while "on its face" they see the regulation as lawful; if we apply and are faced with the unfair application of this regulation to hinder or prevent our expression, then we have open to us "as applied challenges" to the law.

The "Name of the Group" I would put on the application would be: "Individuals Assembling for Expressive Activity and Meditation for Peace." The Description of Proposed Activity: "Temporary Encampment for Expressive Purposes including: Information Exchange, Educational Activities, Prayer, Meditation, Contemplation and Jubilation.

I believe the Gatherings are going to grow and evolve vastly in the next decades, that these ideals which we practice are going to be brought to a huge number of people across our planet, that we are still in the very early phases of what these Gatherings could come to be. These are very fierce and fast-changing times. We have to adapt to the moment to survive.

Finding this middle ground is a way of coming to terms with the bureaucracy while protecting our rights as best we can, and making Peace out of the conflict without becoming an organization ourselves, without selecting "officials" ourselves, without hidden agreements, without becoming one more group with an endlessly fought-over process for selecting "chiefs" and "rulers."

I intend to be a part of the scouting for about a week, to attend a map meeting with scouts and Forest Service discussing some potential locations ­ again in the interests of creating a Common Ground process.

I do not intend to negotiate "things" with the Forest Service. That job is for any of the ten thousand and one who choose to work with the FS resource people to cooperate on whatever needs there may be, and who choose to speak with FS staff to regain the practical talents of working together in a cooperative spirit.

I do intend to work on the cleanup crew, participating in the naturalization of the site through cleanup¹s conclusion.

I am not doing any of this on behalf of anyone other than my lone self.
You /All are responsible as ever for your own words and deeds, and for what we bring together to make this shared community.

I wish everyone strength and wisdom and safe travels,

- Garrick

Forest Service Permit Compliance:
Floppy's Statement

I am writing this statement to express my opinion about an action that will be imposed by some individuals. The action is an intent to sign a special use permit for gathering. I want to make it perfectly clear that I do not support this action 100% and have decided not to feed this action in any way, shape or form.
Even though the title of this proposal would not include the title of Rainbow, it is my belief that it will still be profiled as a Rainbow event.

The two main reasons why I do not support this action are:

(1) Complying with the forest service(which is a branch of the United States Government who has never upheld a treaty agreement)is a bad idea.
(2) It will Create a wall of division from within.

My belief is that this action aids the government more than it aids the function. By complying with the government, you give them a more concrete foundation for regulation, that could lead to even more control
and later to payoffs. An example of this is what has happened to the BurningMan Festival.
I believe this action is being motivated by fear. Which is very modern American(giving up freedom for comfort).
As an individual, this brings up the question: how much I can support this event? (if this is the pattern that will be created). Part of my calling to attend these functions is that I can practice my right as a human being to peacefully assemble on public lands in a noncommercial event, and practice my right to my own religious beliefs. Signing for permission takes
that right away.(Remember, I believe this will still be profiled as a Rainbow event). It also gives law enforcement more right to patrol and control, PERIOD!

I have been told that this permit will create a space for people, who have the fear in them, to attend the function and practice their rights,and will abolish the energy of dealing with law enforcement. This is false.

First- law enforcement will still be there at annual gatherings.

One example where a permit was signed, the law enforcement was as bad as ever in Missouri '96. Also, by complying, it gives them more right to patrol for illegal activities(I know certain spiritual sacraments are illegal).

If the law enforcement relaxes for a year or two because of this action(a show of false good faith),they may create more regulation for control gain down the line. The energy will then go from hippy vs. cop movie to the line of division: Hippy vs. hippy movie(cause we all know hippies know
everything(sarcasm). Hence, this aids the government.

Another thing that bothers me is that this action is being presented as being in the open. Although it won't be a secret meeting, the thing that bothers me is, it's not open for discussion. I was told that no matter how many people opposed this action it would not make a difference in the action itself. So lets be real,the action will be available for open viewing but
not open process. So lets cut the sugar coated crap. Once again the wall of division this action will create,only aids the government and not the
family,PERIOD!!!
This statement I am putting out was also motivated by someone spreading propaganda that I support this action.
Once again let it be known-I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS ACTION 100%!!!!!

This statement (believe it or not) is also motivated from love and concern as a human being. I really hope the Feds reject this proposal. I would like to add, for anyone who supports this action, I will be happy to work with you during cleanup. Not just a couple days, but till the final walk through (which in the past 8-10 years is around July 28). This mean, staying all
the way through the clean up process, not leaving and returning for the final walk. If you support this action that aids the government, you should support the function by cleaning up.
We need more indians not chiefs.

- Love, Floppy

Note: This statement is from myself and myself only. It has not been influenced by anyone but myself.

P.S. "Those who sacrifice their freedom for security deserve niether."
-Thomas Jefferson (I didnt say that, he did)

Petitions for National Forest Access

To President George W. Bush, Secretary of Agriculture Veneman,
Asst. Secretary of Agriculture Mark Rey, Forest Service Chief
Dale Bosworth, USDA Office of Civil Rights, USDA Forest
Service Officials, Justice Department:

The Wounded Earth Environmental Project (W.E.E.P.) volunteers
have agreed to collect copies of these Petitions.

Respectfully,
Barry E. Adams, plunker, pro Se - Montana, (Region 1)

WE LOVE YOU!

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